Well-Stocked

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Since the purpose of this blog is to provide delicious yet wallet-friendly entertaining recipes for those of us who are becoming more acquainted with our kitchens, I thought a good place to start would be, well, the beginning.

While each recipe varies from the next, there are a variety of basic ingredients every well-stocked kitchen should have. I’ve included a grocery list that will help set first-timers on the right track. I’ve provided the cost of each ingredient as well as a grand total, and moving forward, the total cost of each subsequent recipe you’ll find on this site will assume your kitchen is stocked with the basics.

All prices have been garnered from Amazon.com and Fresh Direct, a New York City-based food delivery service; prices may differ slightly by region and are probably higher here than in many other locales. I figure it’s better to have you happily surprised in your grocery store with cheaper prices, instead of vice-versa.

Dried Herbs & Spices:Spices and seasonings can quickly add up, so your best bet is to buy a pre-stocked spice rack. Mine’s from Kamenstein, which comes fully loaded from Amazon.com and costs less than $25.

If you choose to forgo a fully-equipped spice rack, bear in mind, the following is a list of most commonly used seasonings. And these can really take a toll when they’re purchased a la carte.

GRAND TOTAL of a Well-Stocked Kitchen (assuming you sprung for the spice rack): $169.40

While there may be some initial sticker shock, with the exception of the refrigerator items, most of these basics will last you months and months and months. It’s a necessary upfront cost, but in the end, you’ll find you’re saving a ton of trips to and fro’ the grocery store. And to reiterate, unless you’re cooking in the Big Apple, prices will probably be a bit lower where you’re shopping